REPORT 

OF 

THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR, 


COMMUXICATIKG, 


In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Senate,  Colonel  Me  Call"1  s  reports  in 
relation  to  Neio  Mexico. 


FEBRUARY  10,  1851. 

Referred  to  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs. 

FEBRUARY  11,  1851. 
Ordered  to  be  printed. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
Washington , •  February  J  0 ,  1 85 1 . 

SIR:  In  compliance  with  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  6th  instant, 
I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  transmit  copies  of  Colonel  McCall's  report, 
made  to  this  department  from  Santa  Fe,  under  date  of  the  15th  July, 
1850,  and  also  of  his  report  made  to  the  Adjutant  General,  on  the  26th 
December,  1850. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

0.  M.  CONRAD, 

Secretary  of  War. 
Hon.'Wivi.  II.  KING, 

President  of  the  Senate. 


SANTA  FE;  NEW  MEXICO, 

July  15,  1850. 

SIR:  Since  my  arrival  in  New  Mexico,  having  kept  in  view  the  instruc- 
tions with  which  I  was  honored,  contained  in  your  letter  of  November  19, 
IS49,  to  wit:  "It  will  be  instructive  (and  probably  necessary  informa- 
tion, when  the  people  of  New  Mexico  form  a  constitution  and  seek  ad- 
•  on  into  the  confederacy  of  the  States,)  to  have  your  observations  and 
views  on  their  probable  numbers,  habits,  customs,  and  pursuits  of  life;" 
and  the  people  of  New  Mexico  having  formed  and  adopted  a  State  consti- 
tution, and  transmitted  it  to  the  Executive,  to  be  laid  before  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States;  I  have  now  to  submit,  in  compliance  with  your  in- 
structions, a  few  remarks,  the  result  of  much  inquiry,  and  of  such  per- 
sonal observation  as  could  be  made  while  in  the  regular  discharge  o£ 
military  duties, 


[  26  ]  2 

First.  The  population  of  New  Mexico  is,  1  am  satisfied,  less  than  has- 
been  represented. 

According  to  the  statistics  presented  by  Governor  Martinez,  at  the  di- 
vision of  the  Department  of  New  Mexico  into  districts,  in  the  year  1844. 
the  population,  including  the  Pueblos  or  civilized  Indians,  amounted  to 
one  hundred  thousand. 

If  at  the  period  alluded  to  the  number  of  inhabitants  was  not  overrated, 
which  is  more  than  probable,  it  has  certainly  since  then  diminished  in  a 
most  unaccountable  manner.  I  have  taken  pains  to  ascertain  the  number 
of  Mexicans,  residents  of  this  Department,  who  at  the  time  of  its  cession 
to  the  United  States  declared  their  adhesion  to  the  republic  of  Mexico; 
and  of  these,  how  many  afterwards  withdrew  their  declaration  and  re- 
mained here,  and  how  many  actually  left  our  territory  >  and  of  the  latter, 
how  many  have  since  returned  to  make  it  their  permanent  home;  and  I 
am  satisfied  that  the  loss  in  numbers  does  not  exceed  one  thousand,  or, 
•at  the  most,  twelve  hundred  souls.  In  addition  to  those  above  mentioned, 
a  few  men  of  wealth,  with  their  peons,  have  within  the  past  year  removed 
to  Guadalupo,  a  settlement  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  twenty- 
five  miles  below  El  Paso  del  Norte,  where  inducements  have  been  held 
out  by  the  Mexican  government  to  bring  over  to  their  side  the  rich  and 
better  class  of  people.  The  numerical  loss  thus  sustained  is  scarcely  ap- 
preciable. In  fact,  there  is  no  known  cause  that  could  have  materially 
reduced  the  population,  of  New  Mexico  within  the  last  six  years;  yet,  from 
positive  data,  it  is  very  clear  that  it  does  not  now  amount  to  the  number 
above  stated. 

Where  but  little  is  known,  and  where,  in  seeking  that  little,  connecting 
statements  are  frequently  encountered,  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  arrive  at  the 
truth;  therefore,  I  will  not  venture  the  assertion  that  the  population  of 
New  Mexico,  at  the  present  time,  greatly  exceeds  the  quota  required  to 
give  one  seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States;  and, 
indeed,  so  great  a  portion  of  the  face  of  the  country  is  made  up  of  rugged 
mountains  and  waste  plains,  that  it  cannot  be  expected  soon,  if- ever,  to 
receive  and  support  a  population  in  numbers  and  wealth  at  all  proportioned 
to  its  extent  of  territory. 

Besides  the  native  Mexicans,  the  present  population  includes,  of  persons 
born  in  the  United  States  and  in  Europe,  who  have  become  citizens  of 
the  State,  at  the  extent  twelve  hundred.  And  of  the  natives,  besides 
those  whom  strictly  speaking  w,e  call  Mexicans,  there  is  another  distinct 
and  numerous  class  which  seems  to  invite  particular  attention.  I  mean 
the  Pueblo  Indians. 

Having  embraced  Christianity  under  the  Spanish  rule,  the  Pueblos  were 
admitted  to  the  rights  of  citizenship  by  the  Mexican  government  under 
Iturbide;  and  these  rights,  which  they  have  enjoyed  to  the  present  time, 
(at  least  in  name)  are  confirmed  to  them  by  the  State  constitution.  Under 
this  they  are  subject  to  taxation  (by  legislation)  in  common  with  other  in- 
habitants. It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  the  legislature  will,  in  its  wisdom, 
adopt  a  mild  and  conciliatory  policy  towards  these  people.  Under  the 
present  change  of  government  the  impressions  first  made  it  will  be  difficult 
to  remove  from  their  minds;  and  dissatisfaction  produced  at  the  outset, 
may  ultimately  lead  to  more  serious  results  than  would  at  first  glance  ap- 
pear. To  explain  this,  it  will  be  necessary  to  state  in  what  way  the 
Pueblos  may  be  made  an  element  of  much  good  or  evil  to  the  State. 


3  [26] 

These  Indians  still  carry  on  an  occasional  traffic,  and  are  careful  to  main- 
tain a  good  understanding  with  the  wild  Indians.  Not  only,  then,  may 
their  influence  be  used  to  advantage  in  controlling,  and,  indeed,  in  re- 
claiming, several  of  the  least  savage  of  these  tribes;  but  if  at  any  time  the 
United  States  find  it  necessary  to  chastise  an  open  declaration  ©f  hostili- 
ties by  several  of  the  border  tribes — a  thing  not  impossible  when  a  decided 
effort  to  restrain  their  predatory  habits  comes  to  be  made — they  will  find 
valuable  auxiliaries  in  the  Pueblos,  who  count  at  least  twenty-five  hundred 
warriors.  On  the  other  hand ,  should  the  latter  from  any  cause  become  dis- 
satisfied, either  from  what  they  might  conceive  to  be  the  oppressive  bearing 
of  a  law  of  the  State,  or  its  maladministration  by  the  petty  authorities,  (for 
they  still  look  upon  the  Mexicans  with  distrust,)  it  would  be  easy  for  their 
parties  at  d  inherent  points  to  unite  with  the  enemy  for  marauds  or  for  battle 
without  fear  of  detection. 

They  have  twenty  towns  or  settlements,  which  contain  at  least  two 
thousand  four  hundred  families.  These,  at  the  moderate  computation  of 
four  to  each  family,  gives  a  total  of  nine  thousand  six  hundred  souls;  but 
they  probably  exceed  ten  thousand.  Each  town  is  a  distinct  community, 
having  its  guhernador^  or  chief,  and  council;  and  each  community  (as  a 
corporation)  owns  the  soil  it  cultivates.  This,  a  grant  from  the  Spanish 
crown,  is  embraced  within  a  circle  whose  radius  is  a  league — the  town  its 
centre.  The  Pueblos  are  intelligent,  moral,  sober,  and  industrious;  and, 

fenerally  speaking,  they  are  better  off  than  the  lower  class  of  Mexicans. 
lany  of  them  in  each  town  speak  the  Spanish  intelligibly,  and  some  of  the 
principal  men  read  and  even  write  the  language  as  far  as  is  required  in 
their  simple  business  transactions. 

The  "  habits  and  customs"  of  the  Mexican  portion  of  the  inhabitants 
do  not  differ  materially  from  those  of  Mexicans  elsewhere;  yet,  in  some 
particulars,  changes,  the  effect  of  intercourse  Avith  our  people,  have 
already  begun  to  show  themselves.  An  impression  has  been  made,  and 
perhaps  the  first  step  towards  better  things  has  already  been  accomplished. 
Here  in  Santa  Fe  the  diminution  of  filth  in  the  streets,  and  the  improved 
dress  and  personal  cleanliness  of  the  people,  together  with  the  cloaking  of 
immorality,  show  that  precept  and  example  are  not  altogether  thrown 
away  upon  them. 

The  number  who  are  of  Spanish  blood,  unmixed,  is  small:  in  the  mass 
that  of  the  Indian  predominates — so  in  the  mass  the  character  and  dispo- 
sition of  the  latter  are  to  a  greater  or  less  degree  inherited.  This  is 
evinced  in  more  than  one  trait;  but  it  is  sufficient  to  cite  their  extreme 
aversion  to  continued  labor.  If  a  Mexican  has  not  inextricably  involved 
himself  as  the  debtor  of  his  employer,  and,  through  the  action  of  the  law 
(Mexican)  against  debtors,  become  a  peon  for  life,  it  is  with  difficulty  he 
can  be  kept  at  work  longer  than  is  requisite  to  earn  a  few  dollars;  and 
while  this  lasts,  he  indulges  to  the  full  the  luxury  of  lounging  away  the 
hours  of  the  day  with  his  cigarito,  and  perhaps  the  evening  in  the  more 
exciting  amusements  of  the  fandango  and  the  monte  table;  nor  does  he 
resume  his  task  until  compelled  by  want.  Being  moderate  in  his  appe- 
tites, he  requires  but  little  to  subsist  on,  aud  therefore  is  constrained  to 
labor  but  little. 

The  lower  class  are  as  ignorant  as  idle;  and  even  among  their  superiors 
education  is  wo  fully  neglected.  From  this  it  may  be  inferred  that  no 
great  improvement  in  the  moral  condition  of  the  present  generation  can 


[26]  4 

be  expected  from  the  introduction  of  our  institutions,  which  they  can 
neither  understand  nor  appreciate.  It  is  to  the  coming  generation  we 
must  look  for  this;  and  therefore  the  introduction  of  primary  schools  at  as 
early  a  day  as  practicable  is  a  consideration  of  much  interest. 

Of  their  "pursuits  of  life,"  their  manufactures,  perhaps,  stand  lowest 
on  the  scale:  they  are  certainly  primitive  in  their  character.  Yet  this  is 
not  so  much  to  be  attributed  to  a  deficiency  of  aptness  and  manual  skill 
or  dexterity  as  to  the  want  of  proper  instruction  and  better  models,  with 
more  continued  and  systematic  application.  Gradual  improvement  in 
this  branch  may,  therefore,  be  looked  for,  if  their  natural  indolence  can 
be  overcome,  or  their  love  of  gain  be  stimulated  through  the  influence  of 
our  own  enterprising  countrymen.  The  establishment  of  manufactories 
would  do  much  to  accomplish  both,  and,  by  fixing  the  price  of  labor  at  a 
fair  rate,  would  probably  prove  to  be  the  greatest  lever  that  could  be  used 
in  overturning  the  present  system  (A-  peonage. 

The  cheapness  of  wool  (which  in  time  will  be  improved  in  quality  as 
well  as  reduced  in  price)  will  at  once  lead  to  the  erection  of  factories  for 
making  carpets,  blankets,  and  the  coarser  cloths;  and  they  will  not 
only  supply  the  wants  of  the  State  itself,  but  to  some  extent  the  adjoining 
departments  of  Mexico.  These  fabrics  will  likewise  eventually  become 
important  articles  of  traffic  with  the  large  tribes  of  mountain  and  prairie 
Indians.  The  coarse  woollens,  if,  with  the  exception  of  the  head  workmen, 
Mexican  operatives  can  be  used,  may  be  afforded  here  at  prices  to  pre- 
clude competition;  for,  independently  of  the  cost  of  transportation,  the 
price  of  wool  and  the  price  of  labor  are  here  from  one  third  to  one-half 
less  than  in  the  United  States. 

To  a  moderate  extent  iron  works  may  also  be  profitably  established. 
Iron  is  abundant,  and  of  fair  quality,  as  is  the  coal,  which  is  more  or  les» 
bituminous,  and  will  answer  to  reduce  the  ore.  The  heavy  cost  of  trans- 
portation from  the  United  States  will,  it  is  probable,  soon  call  attention  to 
this  subject. 

At  present  but  little  attention  is  paid  to  mining,  for  two  reasons — a  want 
of  capital,  if  not  a  want  of  enterprise,  among  the  people,  and  an  inherent 
fear  of  ulos  Indios."  There  is,  however,  reason  to  believe  that  the 
mines  may  hereafter  become  the  principal  source  of  wealth  to  the  State. 
The  mines  of  New  Mexico  have  always  been  represented  as  rich  in  gold, 
and  immensely  productive  to  the  Spaniards  until  repeated  incursions  of 
hostile  Indians  caused  them  to  be  abandoned.  The  localities  of  these 
mines  are  at  this  time  for  the  greater  part  unknown — the  wild  tribes  who 
inhabit  the  supposed  gold  regions  having  prevented  their  exploration. 
And  for  the  same  reason,  under  present  circumstances,  their  exploration 
is  beyond  the  reach  of  private  enterprise.  Nothing,  therefore,  can  be  sat- 
isfactorily known  of  the  richness  or  poverty  of  the  State  in  this  respect 
until  its  vast  mountain  regions  are  thoroughly  and  scientifically  explored. 
With  this  view,  it  would  be  well  if  a  topographical  engineer  were  associ- 
ated with  an  able,  practical  geologist,  in  order  that  the  government  might 
receive  full  reports,  with  accurate  maps.,  both  geographical  and  geological, 
of  the  whole  country.  For  this  purpose  there  would  be  required  a  mili- 
tary escort  of  sufficient  strength  to  enable  the  party  to  push  its  examina- 
tions to  the  most  remote  parts  of  the  State,  now  the  constant  haunts  of 
Indians. 

Kormerly,  of  the  profitable  pursuits  of  New  Mexico,  "stock  raising" 


5  [26] 

stood  high  upon  the  list,  and  although  now  sadly  reduced  by  the  con- 
tinued inroads  of  the  Navajoes  and  Apaches,  it  will  again,  when  pro- 
tected from  their  marauds,  yield  large  profits  to  the  proprietors.  There 
are  in  New  Mexico  grazing  lands  of  great  extent,  where  countless  flocks 
and  herds  may  be  reared  at  a  very  trifling  expense.  They  require  neither 
stabling  nor  forage  during  the  winter;  the  nutritious  "gramma"  a  species 
of  grass  found  on  the  mountain  sides  and  the  adjoining  uplands,  affording 
abundant  sustenance  during  that  season.  The  climate,  too,  is  well 
adapted  to  all  kinds  of  stock,  particularly  sheep,  which,  owing  to  the 
dryness  of  the  atmosphere,  are  almost  exempt  from  "rot,"  and  other  dis- 
eases common  in  low  countries.  Some  twenty  or  five-and  twenty  years 
ago,  before  the  hand  of  the  red  man  had  fallen  so  heavily  upon  them,  the 
people  of  this  State,  as  well  as  Chihuahua,  sent  annually  to  the  city  of 
Mexico  vast  numbers  of  sheep,*  as  well  as  cattle  and  mules.  At  this  day 
not  one  thousand  are  sent  from  districts  that  formerly  furnished  their 
hundreds  of  thousands,  such  has  been  the  rapacity  and  the  relentless 
spirit  of  hostility  of  the  Navajoes  arid  Apaches. 

The  hill  sides  and  the  plains  that  were  in  days  past  covered  with  sheep 
and  cattle,  are  now  bare  in  many  parts  of  the  State;  yet  the  work  of  plun- 
der still  goes  on.  The  predatory  operations  of  the  two  tribes  just  men- 
tioned are  even  now  carried  on  in  the  close  vicinity  of  our  military  posts; 
the  shepherds  are  pounced  upon  and  shot  with  arrows  to  prevent  their 
carrying  information,  and,  with  their  spoil,  the  Indians  dash  at  speed  to 
the  mountains,  and  are  beyond  reach  before  the  loss  is  known.  In  this 
way  they  (I  mean  now  the  Apaches  only)  run  the  flocks  from  seventy  to 
one  hundred  miles  in  twenty-four  hours.  And,  consequently,  out  of  ten 
thousand  sheep  that  may  be  started,  probably  not  more  than  one  thou- 
sand will  reach  their  destination.  As  the  over-driven  animals  faulter 
from  exhaustion,  those  that  do  not  fall  dead  by  the  way-side  are  lanced, 
as  the  Indians  pass,  to  prevent  their  falling  again  into  the  hands  of  the 
Mexico.  Thus  the  destruction  is  usually  ten-fold  the  gain  of  the  Indians. 
The  Apache  is  satisfied  with  that,  because  all  his  care  is  to  supply  his 
present  wants.  The  more  provident  Navajoe  is  more  careful,  because  his 
principal  object  is  to  increase  his  stock  at  home.  Within  no  more  than 
three  months  past,  between  fifteen  and  twenty  thousand  sheep  and  seve- 
ral hundred  head  of  cattle  and  mules  have  been  driven  from  the  Rio 
Grande,  above  Socorro,  and  from  the  vicinity  of  Vegos,  and  several  shep- 
herds killed,  with  entire  impunity,  by  the  two  tribes  already  named. f 
They  were  on  several  occasions  pursued  by  the  troops,  but  without 
success. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  free  the  mountains  bounding  the  valley  of  the 
Rio  Grande  from  the  incursions  of  these  Indians,  in  order  to  increase 
again  in  a  few  years  the  stock  to  its  former  numbers. 

Then  wool  of  improved  quality,  besides  supplying  the  home  consump- 
tion, would  be  sent  to  Missouri,  and  bring  large  returns;  and  horned 
cattle,  mules,  &c.,  raised  at  little  or  no  expense,  would  secure  large 
profifcs  at  the  same  market. 

*  The  Chavez  connexion,  consisting  of  three  or  four  families,  residing1  below  Albuquerque 
are  known  to  have  sent  as  many  as  200,600  sheep  to  the  city  in  one  ye.tr. 

f  Since  t.he  above  was  written,  an  official  report  ruts  been  received  tnat  a  fiock  of  sixteen  thou- 
sand had  been  carried  off  from  the  Puerco,  opposite  Ciboiletta.  • 


[26] 


6 


I  place  agriculture  last,  or  as  the  least  productive  of  wealth  of  the  three 
principal  industrial  pursuits  of  New  Mexico,  (viz:  mining,  stock  raising, 
and  agriculture,)  but  I  do  so  rather  in  reference  to  the  past  history  and  the 
future  prospects  of  the  State  than  its  present  circumstances.  Formerly, 
under  the  Spanish  government,  mines  were  the  most  productive  of  wealth; 
towards  the  close  of  that  era,  and  during  the  early  period  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  Mexico,  the  immense  droves  of  horses  and  mules,  the  herds 
and  flocks  which  covered  the  face  of  the  country,  constituted  the  chief 
riches  of  this  department.  Of  both  these,  in  succession,  the  inhabitants 
of  New  Mexico  have  been  despoiled  by  their  more  warlike  borderers, 
and  therefore  at  this  day  their  soil  is  almost  all  that  remains  to  them.  Its 
produce,  through  sufferance  of  the  Indians,*  has  saved  them  from  starva- 
tion during  the  infliction  of  a  two-fold  scourge;  but  it  has  not,  nor  will  it 
ever  make  them  rich:  such  is  the  history  of  the  past  and  the  present. 

The  future  of  New  Mexico,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  will  disclose  another  pic- 
ture: the  Indians  subdued;  the  hill-sides  white  with  flocks;  and  the  neg- 
lected mines  again  yielding  up  their  hoard s-of  the  precious  metals;  and 
tit  en  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  although  I  believe  it  will  always  supply 
the  wants  of  the  inhabitants,  will  be  productive  of  less  wealth  to  the  State 
than  either  of  the  other  pursuits;  because,  were  its  products  ten  times 
what  they  ever  can  be,  the  isolated  position  of  the  State,  and  its  entire 
want  of  the  common  arid  requisite  facilities  of  transportation,  either  by 
water  communication  or  otherwise,  would  render  the  products  of  agricul- 
ture, in  whatever  excess  above  the  home  consumption,  unavailable  for 
exportation.  And  here  it  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  give  the  opinion  of 
many  persons  here  with  whom  I  have  conversed  respecting  the  navigable- 
ness of  the  Rio  Grande.  Although  no  accurate  knowledge  is  professed 
to  have  been  derived  from  close  examinations  of  the  great  bend  of  the 
Jornada,  yet  its  course  has,  with  extreme  difficulty,  been  followed  through- 
out, over  steep  mountains  and  rugged  cliffs  that  overhang  the  water;  and 
judging  from  the  appearance  of  the  river  in  its  rapid  and  irregular  descent 
through  this  pass,  a  distance  of  near  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  the 
opinion  entertained  was  very  decided  that  loaded  boats  would  not  be  able 
to  make  the  passage  in  safety  even  at  the  highest  stage  of  water;  at  low 
water  it  would  be  perfectly  impracticable.  And  above  the  Jornada,  it 
will  be  borne  in  mind,  lie  more  than  three-fourths  of  the  arable  [land]  of 
the  river,  or  at  least  nine  tenths  of  that  of  the  State  at  large. 

In  future,  as  heretofore,  it  is  probable  that  to  the  narrow  valley  of  the 
Rio  Grande  (the  "river  bottom")  will  be  confined  the  greater  part  of  the 
strictly  agricultural  portion  of  the  State.  The  affluents  of  the  great  river, 
the  Pecos  on  the  east,  and  the  Puerco  on  the  west,  have  along  their 
courses  large  tracts  of  good  land,  but  the  want  of  timber  on  the  first,  and 
the  too  frequent  occurrence  of  a  partial  or  total  want  of  water  on  the  last, 
are  serious  hindrances  to  their  improvement. 

There  are  spots  on  each,  where,  but  for  the  danger  to  be  encountered 
from  Indians,  isolated  settlements  might  be  made  to  advantage;  but  these 
would  add  .but  little  to  the  total  amount. 

The  best  lands  on  the  Rio  Grande  are  between  Pina  Blanca  and  the 
Jornada  del  Muerto — in  a  narrow  strip  on  either  bank  of  the  river,  that 

*Tbe  Navejoet  faia,  on  a  rerert  occasion,  thnt  th- ir  only  reason  for  not.  exterminating  the 

Kew  Mexicans  lorg  ago  was,  that  il  was  their  interest  to  keep  them  as  thur  slu^herus. 


7  [26] 

would  measure,  following  its  meanders,  about  o«e  hundred  and  eighty 
miles.  These  lands — the  bottomlands — vary  in  depth  from  one-half  of  a 
mile  to  two  miles  and  a  half,  but  probably  do  riot  exceed  on  an  average 
one  mile. 

The  soil  is  light,  but  where  within  reach  of  irrigation  is  enriched  by 
the  fructifying  waters  of  the  river,  and  produces  abundant  and  almost  un- 
failing crops  of  wheat,  corn,  beans  and  onions. 

The  uplands,  even  on  the  very  borders  of  the  river,  and  although  the 
soil  be  good,  are  unproductive,  for  the  reason  that  irrigation  is  impractica- 
ble in  the  ordinary  way.  If,  by  barms',  water  in  sufficient  quantity  for 
irrigation  could  be  got,  many  large  tracts  of  uplands,  now  worthless  except 
for  grazing,  would  possibly  become  as  productive  as  the  bottoms;  but 
this  in  both  respects  is  problematical. 

At  points  where  bodies  of  this  land  are  found  sufficiently  large  to  war- 
rant the  expense,  another  mode  more  eligible  may  be  adopted.  The  fall 
of  the  river  in  its  passage  through  this  part  of  the  State  being  about  two 
and  a  half  feet  to  the  mile,  the  distance  it  may  be  necessary  to  bring  the 
water  from  above  is  easily  calculated;  thus,  a  large  "  acequia"  or  canal, 
opened  five  or  eight  miles  above,  would  throw  its  branches  in  every  direc- 
tion over  land  from  twelve  to  twenty  feet  above  the  level  of  the  river,  at 
the  point  cultivated. 

On  the  march  from  El  Paso  del  Norte  to  Santa  Fe  the  river  lands  were 
^carefully  noted,  and  a  rough  estimate  made  of  the  amount  at  present  in 
cultivation,  &c.,  &c.:  it  is  given  here,  and  may  be  regarded  as  an  ap- 
proximation. 

On  the  left  or  east  bank  of  the  river,  on  the  line  above  indicated,  from 
E(  Paso  to  Don  Ana,  there  is  but  little  land  under  cultivation,  say  thirty- 
two  hundred  acres,  and  as  much  more  cultivable  still  vacant,  while 
there  is  along  the  river  bank  at  least  forty-five  thousand  acres  worthless 
for  agricultural  purposes. 

Twelve  miles  above  Don  Ana  commences  the  noted  Jornada,  crossing 
the  high  table-land  that  fills  the  great  western  bend  of  the  river — a  stretch 
of  ninety  miles  without  water.  At  a  point  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
tiortto  end  of  the  Jornada,  by  taking  a  trail,  (impracticable  for  wagons,)  is 
found  at  the -distance  of  six  miles  westward  the  Ojo  del  Muerto,  or  Dead 
Man's  spring,  where  there  is  running  water;  but  the  fatigue  of  the  animals  - 
occasioned  by  this  extra  march  of  twelve  miles  is  not  compensated  by  the 
draught  of  water;  and  most  trains,  unless  they  can  command  time  to  lie 
by  here,  push  on  to  the  end  of  the  journey  without  halting.  During  the 
rainy  season  two  or  three  pools  may  be  found,  containing  perhaps  water 
enough  for  250  or  30(1  animals — not  more;  and  this  may  not  last  three 
weeks  after  the  rain  ceases. 

Around  this  bend  impassable  mountains  close  in  upon  the  river  banks 
as  far  as  Fray  Cristobal,  eighteen  miles  below  Valverde;  and  from  Don 
Ana  to  Lopez,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  forty  miles,  there  is  not  a 
human  habitation;  that  of  Vtilverde  having  been  abandoned  many  years 
since  in  consequence  of  overflow. 

From  the  north  end  of  Jornada  to  Pina  Blanca  there  is  atpresent  under 
cultivation  about  sixty  miles  of  bottom  land,  with  an  average  depth  of  one 
mile,  giving  sixty  square  miles,  or  thirty-eight  thousand  four  hundred 
acres;  of  cultivable  land  unimproved  about  fifty  square  miles,  or  thirty- 
two  thousand  acres;  and  of  land  uncul livable"— -the  greater  part  entirely 


[26] 


8 


sterile — about  seventy  square  miles,  or  forty-four  thousand  eight  hundred 
acres. 

The  different  qualities  of  land  (it  will  be  understood)  are  in  greater  or 
less  bodies  interposed  amongst  each  other  along  the  whole  line,  though 
the  best  lands,  and  in  the  largest  bodies,  lie  between  Lopez  and  Algo- 
dones. 

On  the  right  or  west  bank  of  the  river,  following  its  meanders,  there 
may  be  from  El  Paso  to  Pina  Blanca  about  forty-seven  square  miles,  or 
thirty  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  now  under  cultivation;  of 
good  land  vacant,  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles,  or  one  hundred  and  fif- 
teen thousand  two  hundred  acres;  and  of  land  waste,  and  fit  only  for 
grazing,  two  hundred  and  three  square  miles,  or  one  hundred  and  thirty 
thousand  acres. 

Here  also,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  the  good,  bad,  and  indifferent 
lands  are  intermixed  in  tracts  of  various  sizes  along  the  route. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  there  are,  in  insolated  tracts,  many  consider- 
able bodies  of  arable  land,  the  principal  of  which  are  here  enumerated. 

First,  the  beautiful  valley  of  Taos,  begirt  almost  by  (he  Rocky  mount- 
ains, their  spurs  and  other  detached  peaks.  The  valley  may  be  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  miles  in  circumference,  and  may  contain,  immedi- 
ately on  the  margins  of  the  several  streams  that  unite  near  the  town  of 
(San  Fernandez  de)  Taos,  forming  the  Rio  de  Taos,  and  thence  to  its  de- 
bouch e  into  the  Rio  Grande,  about  fifteen  thousand  acres  now  in  cultiva- 
tion, and  ten  thousand  acres  arable  vacant.  The  remainder,  though  the 
soil  is  generally  good,  lies  too  high  for  irrigation  in  the  ordinary  way,  even 
supposing  that  the  streams  afforded  water  enough,  which  is  doubtiul. 

Passing  from  the  valley,  a  spur  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  there  is  from 
La  Joya  to  Canada  a  stretch  along  the  Rio  Grande  of  about  fifteen  milesr 
with  an  average  depth  of  two  miles,  say  twenty  thousand  acres  of  good 
cultivable  land,  little  of  which  is  improved. 

Crossing  the  Rio  Grande  at  Canada,  we  ascend  the  Rio  Chamas  to  the 
town  of  Abiquiu,  adjoining  which  the  river  bottom  is  cultivated  for  about 
three  miles,  with  an  average  width  of  one  and  a  half,  or  twenty-eight  hun» 
dred  and  eighty  acres.  The  unimproved  lands  on  this  stream,  equally 
good  in  quality  and  position,  amount  to  thrice  that  quantity;  in  this  esti- 
mate both  banks  of  the  river  are  included. 

Recrossing  the  Rio  Grande  there  will  be  found,  at  Rayado  and  Moro- 
town,  some  twenty  thousand  acres  of  good  land,  about  one-tenth  of  which 
is  improved;  at  the  former  a  portion  of  the  land  lies  high,  but  may  be 
irrigated  by  bringing  the  water  some  miles. 

Around  Las  Yegas,  Upper  and  Lower  Tecolete  and  Barclay's  Trading- 
bouse,  there  may  be  one  hundred  thousand  acres,  of  which  nearly  one- 
fifth  is  improved. 

On  the  Pecos  river,  at  the  towns  of  Pecos,  San  Jose,  San  Miguel,  Anton 
Chico,  &c.,  probably  six  thousand  acres  in  cultivation,  and  thrice  that 
amount  of  arable  land  vacant. 

Of  several  of  the  last  named  bodies  of  land  it  should  be  remarked  that 
doubt  exists  whether  the  streams  on  which  they  lie  will  afford  a  suffi- 
ciency to  irrigate  the  whole  of  what  is  actually  within  reach  of  their 
waters. 

Returning  westward,  we  have  on  the  Rio  de  Santa  Fe,  below  the  town, 
not  more  than  five  thousand  acres  in  cultivation:  all  that  around  still  va- 


9  [26] 

cant,  is  worthless  for  agricultural  purposes.  And  from  Canada  to  Peiia 
Blanca,  along  the  river,  there  is  but  little  good  land  on  this  side.  The 
lands  on  the  Pecos,  as  far  as  yet  settled,  are  included  in  the  above  esti- 
mates. Below  the  settlements  there  is  timber  at  but  two  points.  These 
are  the  Basque  liedondo,  or  round  forest,  and  the  Basque  Grande,  or 
great  forest.  The  latter,  in  or  about  the  parallel  of  Valverde,  extends 
along  the  river  for  fifteen  miles,  with  a  breadth  of  eight  or  ten  miles,  in- 
cluding both  banks.  Sixty  miles  above  is  the  former,  lying  equally  on 
both  banks,  with  a  diameter  of  ten  miles.  Each  has  good  timber  in 
abundance,  but  it  is  impossible  to  say  what  quantity  of  land  adjoining 
either  is  fit  for  the  plough;  and  they  are  the  only  points  on  the  Pecos  below 
the  Anton  Chico  settlement  where  wood  enough  even  for  fuel  is  found. 

The  Puerco  and  its  west  tributary,  the  Rio  San  Jose,  the  Rio  de  Jemez, 
and  the  country  thence  along  the  Rio  Grande  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Charnas,  have  some  small  tracts  of  land  in  cultivation,  principally  by  Pue- 
blos. I  have  been  unable  to  ascertain  the  amount  from  any  reliable  source, 
and  therefore  have  not  included  it  in  the  estimate.  But  it  is  believed,  as 
mentioned  above,  that  the  frequent  sinking  of  the  Puerco  in  deep  sands, 
under  which,  upon  a  hard  clay,  it  follows  its  course  for  miles,  reappearing 
*at  intervals  in  the  form  of  pools,  until  finally  lost  entirely  before  reaching 
the  Rio  Grande,  will  prevent  its  ever  adding  much  to  the  agricultural  pro- 
duce of  the  State. 

On  the  headwaters  of  the  Arkansas,  I  have  been  told  by  old  trapper?, 
there  is  a  beautiful  country  of  great  extent,  where  the  land,  well  watered 
and  well  timbered,  is  sufficiently  level  for  farming.  They  expressed  the 
belief  that  good  crops  of  wheat  and  corn  might  be  raised  here  without  irri- 
gation, the  rains  being  seasonable  and  sufficient. 

More  minute  examination  of  this  country  will  be  necessary  to  deter- 
mine its  character  and  value. 

1  shall  now  proceed  to  recapitulate  and  sum  up  what  maybe  considered 
the  agricultural  districts  of  New  Mexico;  not  including  any  portion  of 
the  State  now  held  by  wild  Indians. 

Land  now  in  cul-    Land  cultivable 
tivation —          now  vacant — r 
acres.  acres. 

Left  or  east  bank  of  Rio  Grande — 

From  El  Paso  to  Don  Ana       -  -  -     3,200  3,200 

From  Fray  Cristobal  to  Pena  Blanca  -  -  38,600  32,000 

Right  or  west  bank  of  Rio  Grande — 

From  El  Paso  to  Peiia  Blanca             -            -  30,280  115,200 

Valley  of  Taos 15,000  10,000 

On  Rio  Grande — 

From*  La  Joya  to  Canada         -  -  -     2,000  18,000 

Valley  of  Chamas — 

At  Abiquiu       -  -  -     2,8SO  8,84: 

Rayado  and  Morotown  -     2,000  18,000 

Las  Vegas,  Upper  and  Lower  Tecolete,  and  Bar- 
clay's Trading-house  -  20,000  80,000 
Pecos,  San  Jose,  San  Miguel,  and  Anton  Chico      6,000  18,000 
Santa  Fe           -----     5,000 


Total  number  of  acres  -  -  124,760  303,240 


[26] 


10 


From  the  foregoing  statement,  based  upon  close  personal  observations 
and  much  minute  inquiry,  it  would  appear  that  more  than  one  half  of  the 
arable  land,  either  improved  or  vacant,  as  far  as  now  known  with  any 
degree  of  certainty,  lies  in  the  immediate  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  method  adopted  in  estimating,  it  is  true,  is  rude,  but  neither  time 
nor  opportunity  admitted  of  a  more  regular  and  satisfactory  examination. 
The  figures,  I  may  assert  with  confidence,  are  not  too  high;  nor  do  I  be- 
lieve they  will  be  found  very  greatly  below  the  truth  with  respect  to  the 
lands  specified;  what  amount  of  farming  lands  there  may  be  in  addition 
to  these,  further  examination  will  determine. 

In  looking  at  the  past,  in  the  history  of  New  Mexico,  it  is  clear  that  the 
fruits  of  labor  in  the  principal  pursuits  of  life  above  mentioned,  have,  up 
to  the  time  of  the  cession  of  the  territory  to  the  United  Stales,  been 
blighted  by  the  presence  of  formidable  tribes  of  Indians,  who  still  infest 
the  country;  and  it  would  from  certain  indications  appear  that  the  future 
prosperity  of  the  State  to  arise  from  the  steady,  uninterrupted  prosecution 
of  these  pursuits,  will  in  a  great  measure  depend  on  the  impression  now 
to  be  made  on  these  Indians. 

It  may  be  apprehended,  that  if  they  are  not  in  the  beginning  impressed 
with  the  ability  and  the  settled  purpose  of  the  United  Slates  to  chastise 
those  who  plunder  and  murder  its  citizens — if  acts  of  this  kind,  now  of 
almost  monthly  occurrence  and  utterly  beyond  the  power  of  the  present 
military  force  to  check,  are  continued  longer  unpunished,  the  Indians  will 
hold  us  in  the  contempt  with  which  they  now  look  upon  the  Mexicans, 
whom  they  have  wantonly  robbed  and  murdered  for  two  centuries  past. 
And  the  inevitable  consequence  will  be,  sooner  or  later,  a  war,  more  or 
less  general,  with  the  surrounding  tribes. 

This  subject  appears  to  be  so  closely  blended  with  those  to  which  my 
attention  has  bsen  directed,  1  trust  a  few  remarks  on  the  present  strength 
and  tamper  of  these  Indians  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  the  department. 
The  information  has  been  gathered  piecemeal,  and  therefore  may  be  re- 
garded as  the  collective  knowledge  of  several  persons  who  have  seen 
much  of  the  different  tribes. 

Of  the  eight  tribes  of  wild  Indians  who  inhabit  the  mountains  and 
plains  of  New  Mexico  and  the  contiguous  country,  the  Navajoes  and 
Apaches  are  the  most  formidable  as  enemies,  the  most  troublesome  as 
neighbors. 

The  first  are,  with  the  exception  of  the  Moqui,  the  most  civilized:  they 
are  without  exception  the  most  wealthy  of  all.  They  are  not  so  warlike 
nor  so  bold  in  attack  as  the  Apaches;  but  they  are  numerous,  well 
equipped,  and  occupy  a  country  well  fortified  by  nature.  Their  country, 
extending  from  the  San  Juan  tn  the  Gila,  with  a  breadth  of  15(^rniies, 
consists  chiefly  of  rroun  tains  and  high  tablelands,  and  is  full  of  fast- 
nesses. Their  possessions  consist  of  large  stocks  of  horses,  mules,  horned 
cattle  and  sheep,  which  are  perhaps  extravagantly  represented,  by  persons 
who  have  had  intercourse  with  them,  as  numerous  beyond  calculation — 
many  times  more  so  than  those  of  all  New  Mexico  at  present.  There 
may  be  great  extravagance  in  all  this,  but  it  is  well  known  that  these 
Indians  do  possess  stock,  more  or  less.  If  such  be  the  case,  and  they 
are  supposed  to  have  retained  one  out  of  ten,  or  even  one  out  of  every 
twenty,  of  the  countless  flocks  and  herds  they  have  driven  off  from 
the  Rio  Grande  within  the  last  twenty  years,  to  increase  their  own  stock, 


11  [26] 

their  progeny  would  in  less  time  have  swelled  the  amount  to  extrava- 
gant numbers.  Although  they  have  no  permanent  villages,  they  culti- 
vate the  soil  to  a  considerable  extent,  making  periodical  visits  to  their 
fields  at  planting  and  harvest  times.  In  this  way  they  make  a  sufficiency 
of  grain  for  all  their  wants,  besides  a  few  vegetables  and  fruits.  They 
are  said  to  be  intelligent  and  industrious,  and  their  manufactures  (blankets 
and  coarse  cloths,)  in  their  neatness  and  finish,  go  far  to  prove  this;  these 
articles  being  made  (of  wool  of  their  own  growing)  not  only  for  their 
own  use,  but  for  traffic  also  to  a  large  amount. 

For  some  years  past  they  are  believed  to  have  steadily  increased  in 
numbers,  and  to  count  now  about  eighteen  hundred  lodges,  which,  at  six 
per  lodge,  would  give  ten  thousand  eight  hundred  souls. 

From  the  aptness  of  these  Indians  and  the  advancement  they  have 
made  in  the  arts  of  civilization,  it  occurs  to  the  mind  that  they  might 
with  proper  management  be  induced  to  settle  themselves  permanently,  as 
the  Pueblos  have  done;  after  which  they  might  be  advantageously  em- 
ployed in  an  attempt  to  reclaim  their  more  wild  and  savage  neighbors. 
And  the  accomplishment  of  an  object  so  important  would  sesm  worthy  of 
notice. 

The  forays  which  the  Apaches  make  upon  the  Mexicans  are  incited  by 
want;  they  have  nothing  of  their  own,  and  must  plunder  or  starve.  This 
is  not  the  case  with  the  Navajoes—  they  have  enriched  themselves  by  ap- 
propriating the  flocks  and  herds  of  an  unresisting  people,  arid  cannot  offer 
the  plea  of  necessity. 

In  the  first  place,  before  anything  can  be  done  with  this  people,  it  is 
believed  it  will  be  indispensable  to  open  the  communication  with  them  in 
their  own  country,  in  the  presence  of  a  sufficient  military  force  to  impress 
them  seriously  with  the  weight  and  importance  of  the  conference;  that  the 
object  is  not  an  idle  "£<//£" — a  treaty  such  as  they  have  been  in  the  habit 
from  year  to  year  of  making  with  the  New  Mexicans,  to  be  continued  in 
force  only  until  their  own  immediate  objects  are  quietly  attained — but  a 
treaty,  the  violation  of  which  will  bring  upon  them  war  in  all  its  severity. 
Then  (the  treaty  being  concluded)  let  the  first  offence  be  so  punished  as 
to  prove  that  we  are  in  earnest.  Forbearance  exercised  towards  the  Nava- 
joes would  be  mistaken  humanity;  and  the  blood  of  our  -own  citizens 
would  be  the  fruits  of  it.  It  would  be  dealing  with  them  too  much  in  the 
style  they  have  been  accustomed  to;  and  the  only  effect  would  be  to  excite 
their  contempt  for  us. 

But  I  am  satisfied  that  the  presence  of  a  strong  military  force  in  their 
country — (the  Navajoes  muster  over  two  thousand  warriors) — would 
insure  the  observance  of  any  treaty  it  might  be  important  to  make  with 
them.  Their  thievish  propensities  could  then  be  controlled;  and  they 
might  in  a  short  time,  by  judicious  management,  be  induced  to  give  up 
their  roving  habits  and  settle  themselves  in  permanent  towns,  in  the 
vicinity  of  their, fields.  They  could,  with  little  labor,  live  well  on  the 
increase  of  their  flocks,  sand  the  bountiful  product  of  their  soil,  which, 
with  little  attention,  gives  growth  to  noble  crops  of  wheat,  as  well  as  corn. 
Nor  would  the  change  of  life  to  them  be  very  great. 

If  the  Navajoes  are  first  secured,  and  their  chiefs  enlisted  in  our  cause, 
their  influence  may  at  once  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  other  tribes. 
They  entertain  the  most  friendly  relations  with  their  northern  neighbors, 
the  Utahs;  as  do  the  latter  with  the  tribe  adjoining  on  the  east,  the  Jica- 


[26] 


12 


rilla  Apaches:  and  by  the  last  the  communication  is  kept  up  with  the 
several  bands  of  their  own  tribes  on  the  east  of  the  State,  and  so  on  to  the 
Gila  bands  on  the  south.  And  here  if  the  Gila  Apaches  prove  refractory, 
the  Navajoes  may  be  brought  against  them  without  difficulty,  for  they  are 
far  from  friendly  now,  and  frequently  have  a  brush  when  they  meet. 

To  an  end  so  desirable,  the  Pueblos  of  the  State  might  in  the  first  place 
be  well  employed  in  bringing  about  the  reformation  of  the  Navajoes;  al- 
though at  present  they  are  not  friendly. 

The  Moqui  Indians,  who  live  to  the  southwest  of  the  Navajoes,  are 
weak  in  numbers,  and  are  too  remote  to  give  annoyance  to  the  State, 
were  they  so  disposed.  They  have,  however,  no  such  disposition;  but 
on  the  contrary  are  pacific,  honest,  and  hospitable;  and  are,  besides,  the 
most  civilized  of  the  western  Indians.  They  always  proved  themselves 
good  warriors  in  their  former  contests  with  the  Navajoes  and  Apaches; 
and  though  much  reduced  in  numbers  by  their  more  powerful  enemies, 
were  never  subdued. 

The  cultivation  of  a  friendly  understanding  with  them  might  be  repaid 
at  some  future  day,  by  their  services  in  various  ways,  as  guides,  &c.,  in 
the  event  of  a  war  with  either  of  their  old  enemies.  The  Moqui  Jive  in 
permanent  villages;  cultivate  large  farms;  have  a  large  amount  of  stock; 
and  make  blankets  and  cloths  from  wool  of  their  own  growing.  The 
number  of  their  lodges  is  about  three  hundred  and  fifty,  which,  at  seven 
per  lodge,  would  give  a  population  of  twenty  four  hundred  and  fifty  souls. 

On  the  north  of  the  Navajoes  are  the  Utahs,  occupying  the  territory  be- 
tween the  San  Juan  and  the  head  of  the  Arkansas— a  rugged  country,  but 
well  stocked  with  game.  They  have  neither  permanent  villages  nor  culti- 
vated fields,  and  subsist  chiefly  on  game.  They  are  a  warlike  people, 
and  much  attached  to  a  wandering  life,  frequently  extending  their  excur- 
sions to  California.  Altogether  they  amount  to  four  or  five  thousand, 
though  there  are  rarely  at  a  time  more  than  one  thousand  immediately  on 
the  borders  of  the  State.  These  people  do  not  extend  their  forays  further 
south  than  Abiquiu,  Taos,  and  Morotown;  and  in  these  they  are  very 
often  united  with  the  Jicarilla  Apaches.  In  event  of  an  active  campaign 
being  set  on  foot  for  the  purpose  of  punishing  the  outrages  committed 
recently  by  the  latter,  the  Utahs  would  undoubtedly  render  them  great 
assistance,  covertly,  and  at  the  same  time  send  in  to  inform  us  of  their 
determination  to  remain  neutral.  It  is  not  probable,  however,  they  would 
openly  join  them. 

Adjoining  the  Utahs  on  the  northeast  are  the  Sheyennes  and  Arrapahoes, 
who  range  from  the  headwaters  of  the  Arkansas  eastward  upon  the  plains. 
They  subsist  entirely  upon  the  buffalo;  commit  no  depredations;  are 
friendly  to  the  white  man — though  in  the  event  of  a  war  with  other  tribes, 
could  not  perhaps  be  depended  upon.  Together,  they  amount  to  about 
three  thousand  five  hundred  souls. 

The  eastern  part  of  New  Mexico  (up  to  the  Rio  Pecos)  is  a  part  of  the 
range  of  the  Comanches,  and  they  visit  these  grounds  at  least  once  a  year, 
generally  after  the  breaking  up  of  their  winter  quarters  near  the  sources  of 
the  Brazos  and  Trinity  rivers  of  Texas.  They  rarely  commit  depreda- 
tions in  New  Mexico;  and  their  movements  are  principally  ol  interest  to 
the  State,  from  their  intimate  connexion  with  the  Apaches.  They  meet 
the  latter  on  the  Pecos,  and  there  concert  their  campaigns  into  Chihuahua 
and  Sonora.  From  these  departments  they  annually  bring  off  large 


13  [  28  ] 


numbers  of  mules ;  and  often  from  Durango,  into  the  centre  of  which  they 
sometimes  make  their  way  in  company  with  the  Mescaleros,  (Apaches.) 
And  from  these  departments  they  also  bring  offmany»prisoners. 

Again,  on  their  return  they  halt  at  the  Pecos,  and  are  now  met  by  the 
New  Mexican  traders.  Their  mules  are  many  of  them  exchanged  with 
the  latter  for  arms  and  ammunition,  cloths,  and  paint,  &c.  &c. ;  the  re- 
mainder are  driven  with  them  on  their  return,  and  their  meat  eaten  imtil 
they  again  enter  the  buffalo  range. 

Their  prisoners  are  said  to  amount  to  large  numbers;  they  consist  prin- 
cipally of  women  and  children,  though  men  also  are  often  brought  over. 
A  New  Mexican,  living  at  'San  Miguel,  recently  returned  from  a  large 
camp  of  Comanches  and  Apaches,  on  the  Pecos,  stated  that  in  the  camp 
of  the  former  there  were  almost  as  many  Mexican  slaves — women  and 
children — as  Indians.  It  will  be  a  difficult  matter  to  induce  them  to  re- 
store these  prisoners.  And  until  this  unlicensed  trade  is  broken  up,  their 
predatory  incursions  into  Mexico  can  never  be  checked. 

The  Comanches,  divided  into  three  bands,  have  in  all  upwards  of 
twelve  thousand  souls. 

The  Kayuguas,  who  occupy  the  country  west  of  the  Brasos,  are  rarely 
seen  on  the  borders  of  New  Mexico.  They  do  not  exceed  two  thousand 
souls. 

Lastly,  the  several  bands  of  the  Aprtchcs.  These  Indians,  owing  to 
their  numerical  strength,  their  bold  and  independent  character,  and  their 
immemorial  predatory  habits,  will,  it  is  to  be  apprehended,  prove  more 
difficult  to  reclaim  or  subdue  than  any  other  of  the  (strictly  speaking)  New 
Mexican  tribes. 

From  the  earliest  accounts  we  have  of  them,  they  have  been  regarded 
by  their  kindred  tribes  as  mountain  robbers.  On  the  Gila,  at  the  period 
of  the  Spanish  conquest,  they  were  in  the  habit  of  despoiling  the  fields  of 
their  more  industrious  and  pacific  neighbors,  the  Moqui.  By  these  they 
have  latterly  been  successfully  resisted'.  But  the  inhabitants  of  Chihua- 
hua and  Sonora  are  still  groaning  under  their  relentless  spoliations.  They 
complain  bitterly;  but  continue  to  submit  without  resistance. 

The  Apaches,  divided  into  six  bands,  inhabit  the  country  enclosed  be- 
tween the  eastern  chain  of  the  Rio  Grande  mountains  and  the  river  Pecos, 
from  the  northern  to  the  southern  boundary  of  New  Mexico,  and  on  the 
south  the  country  bordering  on  the  Gila  river — thus  completing  the  chain 
by  uniting  with  the  Utahs  on  the  north,  and  with  the  territory  of  the 
Navajoes  on  the  west. 

Of  the  different  bands,  the  Jicaritta  Apaches,  on  the  -extreme  north, 
are  one  of  the  smallest,  but,  at  the  same  time,  one  of  the  most  troublesome 
of  the  tribe.  They  have  latterly  committed  more  murders  on  our  people 
than  all  the  others  together.  Ranging  from  the  upper  Arkansas'  to  the 
Canadian,  their  trail  crosses  the  Independence  and  Santa  Feroad  between 
the  "  Point  of  Rocks  "  and  the  "  Wagon  Mound  "  or  Santa  Clara  spring, 
and  this  ground  is  known  as  the  scene  of  several  recent  and  deplorable, 
tragedies.  They  have  suffered  severely  in  two  or  three  conflicts  with 
our  troops  during  the  past  year,  and  are  supposed  now  to  number  less  than 
one  hundred  warriors — four  hundred  souls.  They  (as  well  as  all  the  other 
bands  of  this  tribe)  have  no  permanent  villages — no  fields  of  grain;  and 
fearing  collision  with  the  stronger  tribes  that  roam  the  buffalo  plains,  the 


[26] 


14 


Jirarillas  depend  for  their  subsistence  chiefly  on  the  success  of  their  ma- 
rauding parties. 

This  band  is  considered  as  incorrigible;  and  it  is  believed  they  will 
continue  to  rob  and  murder  our  citizens  until 'they  are  exterminated.  I 
know  of  no  means  that  could  be  employed  to  reclaim  them. 

Next  in  succession,  southwardly,  are  the  White  Mountain  Apaches, 
numbering  one  hundred  and  fifty  warriors;  they  are  in  close  communica- 
tion with  the  Sacramento  Apaches,  who  have  about  the  same  number  of 
warriors.  These  two  bands  inhabit  the  White  and  Sacramento  mountains, 
and  together  they  range  the  country  extending  north  and  south  from  the 
junction  of  the  Gallinos  with  the  Pecos  to  {he  lower  end  of  the  Jornada  del 
Muerto.  They  continue  to  drive  off  the  stock  and  to  kill  the  Mexican 
shepherds  both  in  the  vicinity  of  Vegas  and  along  the  Rio  Grande  from 
Sandival's  to  Don  Ana. 

Next  come  the  Apaches  Mcrcaleros,  consisting  of  two  bands,  under  the 
chiefs  Marco  and  Gomez;  the  former  (the  more  northerly)  having  two 
hundred  warriors;  the  latter,  four  hundred.  They  hold  the  country  east 
of  the  Rio  Grande  from  the  Gaudalupe  mountains  to  Presidio  del  Norte. 

These  two  bands  are  the  strongest  and  the  most  warlike  and  learless  of 
their  tribe.  They  have  rarely  molested  the  inhabitants  of  New  Mexico 
north  of  El  Paso;  nor  were  they  unfriendly  to  Utiited  States  citizens 
whom  they  met  on  the  road,  until  a  feeling  of  hostility  was  aroused  by 
the  infamous  attack  of  Glanton,  an  American  citizen  in  the  pay  of  the 
government  of  Chihuahua,  on  a  part  of  Gomez's  band  in  1849  They 
have,  however,  for  years,  in  conjunction  with  the  Comanches,  committed 
fearful  havoc  in  Chihuahua  and  Sonora,  and  like  them  have  carried  off 
women  and  children,  though  not  by  any  means  to  the  same  extent 

These  bands  have  no  manufactures  whatever;  and  having  no  agricul- 
ture and  but  little  game  in  their  own  country,  they  subsist  in  a  great 
measure  on  the  meat  of  horses,  mules,  and  sometimes  cattle,  driven  from 
Mexico  by  their  foraging  parties.  They  are  not,  however,  altogether  with- 
out a  farinaceous  food.  A  kind  of  cake  or  paste  is  made  from  the  mez- 
quite  bean,  and  the  root  of  the  maguay  plant  is  roasted  and  eaten. 

The  Gila  Apaches,  subdivided  into  three  or  four  smaller  bands  make 
their  home — if  an  Apache  can  be  said  to  have  a  home — on  the  Gila 
river. 

Their  foraging  parties  sometimes  make  their  appearance  on  the  Rio 
Grande,  near  Don  Ana;  but,  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  their  supplies 
are  brought  from  Chihuahua.  They  are  bold  and  independent,  and  to- 
gether muster  about  four  hundred  warriors. 

To  take  in'to  view  the  different  bands  collectively  as  a  tribe,  and  the 
extent  of  country  held  by  the  tribe;  to  consider  their  restless  habits,  their 
aversion  to  permanent  villages  and  the  labor  of  agriculture;  at  the  same 
time  bearing  in  mind  the  scarcity  of  game  throughout  a  great  part  of  their 
country,  and  therefore  the  temptation,  in  fact  the  almost  necessity,  to 
poach  upon  their  neighbors,  and  it  would  seem  like  the  undertaking  of  a 
tedious  task  to  attempt  to  reclaim  the  Apaches.  It  is  true,  it  will  require 
time  to  subdue  their  propensity  to  plunder,  to  control  their  movements, 
to  settle  them  in  permanent  villages,  and*  to  induce  them  to  commence 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil;  and  until  this  is  effected,,  they  must  continue  to 
31! under,  or  they  must  starve;  still,  it  may  be  possible  to  accomplish  all 
this,  by  judicious  management,  in  a  few  years'  time.  During  at  least 


15  [  26  ] 

the  early  part  of  this  period  it  would,  of  course,  be  necessary  to  feed  these 
Indians;  to  give  them  cattle  and  sheep,  and  to  encourage  the  rearing  of 
them;  to  employ  suitable  persons — New  Mexicans  would  be  the  best,  as 
the  Apaches  understand  their  language — to  teach  them  how  to  prepare 
their  fields  and  plant  their  corn  for  the  first  year  or  two.  And  the  great- 
est difficulty,  perhaps,  would  be  found,  in  carrying  out  this  part  of  the 
scheme,  to  overcome  the  pride  of  the  Apache  warriors,  who  think  any 
pursuits  but  those  of  war  and  the  chase  beneath  their  dignity. 

From  the  following  little  incident  may  be  drawn  very  fair  conclusions 
as  to  the  present  condition  and  temper  of  the  Apaches. 

In  March  last  Mr.  F.  X.  Aubrey,  on  his  way  from  San  Antonio  to  El 
Paso  with  a  train  of  wagons,  fell  in  with  Marco^s  b*md  near  the  Limpia 
river.  The  former  had  with  him  near  sixty  men,  which  perhaps  had 
some  influence  on  the  character  of  h*is  reception.  An  amicable  meeting, 
however,  took  place,  and  some  mules  were  obtained  from  the  Indians. 

In  the  "talk"  held  between  the  parties,  Mr.  Aubrey  told  Marco  that  the 
United  States  desired  to  be  on  friendly  terms  with  him;  and  that,  con- 
sequently, he  must  not  allow  his  people  to  kill  our  citizens,  or  carry  off 
their  stock.  This  he  promised  to  do.  He  was  then  told  he  must  also 
give  up  plundering  the  Mexicans.  After  a  long  pause  he  replied,  "I  had 
supposed  that  my  brother  was  a  man  of  good  sense.  Has  he,  then,  seen 
between  the  Pecos  and  the  Limpia  game  enough  to  feed  3,000  people? 
We  have  had  for  a  long  time  no  other  food  than  the  meat  of  Mexican 
cattle  and  mules,  and  we  must  make  use  of  it  still,  or  perish."  He  said 
subsequently,  "If  your  people  will  give  us  cattle  to  feed  our  families,  we 
will  no  longer  take  from,  the  Mexicans.'.' 

If  these  people  were  maintained  in  idleness,  they  would,  perhaps,  re- 
main quiet;  but  whether  they  could  be  induced  to  take  upon  themselves 
the  task  of  providing  for  their  future  subsistence,  by  their  own  manual 
labor,  is  a  question  that  nothing  but  actual  experiment  will  solve. 

The  whole  of  the  Indians  of  the  country  are  ignorant  of  the  power  of 
the  United  States,  and  also  of  its  views  as  regards  themselves.  And  it 
would  do  much  to  enlighten  them  as  to  the  policy  of  our  government  if 
delegations  from  the  Pueblos  and  the  principal  wild  tribes  were  called  to 
the  United  States.  A  journey  through  the  States,  and  a  visit  to  our  prin- 
cipal cities,  would  likewise  impress  them  as  to  the  means  and  resources 
of  the  country  to  carry  on  a  war.  If,  however,  by  such  means  as  have 
been  referred  to,  these  people  may  not  be  reclaimed,  it  is  very  certain  that 
a  considerable  augmentation  of  the  armed  'force  will  be  required  to  control 
them. 

Within  the  last  hour,  information  of  a  perfectly  reliable  character  has 
been  received  that  near  Padillas,  about  seventy  miles  south  of  Santa  Fe, 
seven  thousand  sheep  were  driven  off  by  Navajoes  a  few  days  since;  and 
a  few  miles  lower  on  .the  river,  six  hundred;  the  shepherd  of  the  fast 
flock  being  pierced  with  fourteen  arrows. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  seivawt, 

GEO.  A.  Me  CALL, 
Major  3d  Infantry,  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel. 

Hon.  GEO.  W.  CRAWFORD,  Secretary  of  War. 

[Copies  of  the  State  constitution,  m  the  Spanish  and  the  English  lan- 
guage, enclosed  he;ewith.] 


[26] 


16 


P.  S.  —  The  returns  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  the  Territory  show 
the  following  number  of  votes  polled  at  the  recent  elections.  No  estimate 
of  the  population  can  be  made  from  them,  as  the  number  entitled  to  vote, 
who  did  not  vote,  is  unknown. 

Number  of  votes  polled  for  the  constitution  -  -     8,  371 

Number  of  votes  polled  against  the  constitution    -  39 


For  Governor — Connelly- 
Baca         - 


Lieutenant  Governor — Alvarez 
St.  Vrain 


8,410 

-  4,  604  votes. 

-  2,706      u 

7, 310      « 


-  4,586  votes, 

-  3,465      " 

8,051      " 


N.  B.  —  The  following  is  believed  to  be  a  pretty  accurate  estimate  of  the 
strength  of  the  Apaches,  and  also  of  the  other  New  Mexican  Indians.  I 
am  aware  that  the  Apaches  and  Utahs  are  by  some  persons  set  down  as 
above  10,000  each;  of  the  Pueblos  at  from  12,000  to  15,000;  but  I  feel 
confident  they  have  been  overrated: 


Apaches  ,  Jicarillas          -  -  - 

White  mountains 

Sacramento  mountains  -  - 

Mercaleros  — 

Marco's  band,  200  warriors,  1,  000  souls 
Gomez's  band,  400  warriors,  I,  800  souls 

Gila  band  —  three  or  four  subdivisions 


Warriors. 

1  00 
150 
150 


Souls. 

400 
600 
600 


400 


Total  of  Apaches 


-  1,  400          6,  000 


Wild  Indians  of  New  Mexico. 


West  of  Rio  Grande:  1.  Navajoes 

2.  Moq'ni 

North  ,of  the  State:      3.  Utah,  on  the  State  line 

far  west 

4.  S  hey  en  nes 

5.  Arrapahoes 
East  of  Pecos:            6.  Comanches     - 

7.  Hayaguias 
West  of  Pccos,  and 

south  of  the  State:  8.  Apaches,  warriors  1,400 

Grand  total        • 

Not  including  W.  Utahs 


Lodges. 

Souls. 

1,500 

10.000 

350 

2,  500 

_ 

1,000 

- 

4,000 

300 

2,000 

300 

1,500 

2,500 

12,  000 

400 

2,000 

6,000 
41,000 
37,  500 
G.  A.  McC. 


17  [ 28  ] 

INSPECTOR-  GEXERAL'S  OFFICE, 
Philadelphia^  December  26,  1850. 

GENERAL:  In  obedience  to  instructions  from  the  War  Department,  em- 
braced in  a  letter  from  your  office  dated  the  24th  June,  1850,  I  have  now 
the  honor  to  submit  a  report  on  the  several  subjects  therein  referred  to,  viz: 

"1.  The  probable  number  of  lives  lost  and  of  persons  taken  captives 
by  the  Indians,  within  the  last  eighteen  months,  in  New  Mexico;  also  the 
probable  value  of  property  stolen  or  destroyed  within  the  same  period." 

In  pursuing  my  inquiries  on  this  subject  I  found  it  extremely  difficult, 
although  I  visited  towns  or  settlements  where,  or  in  the  neigborhood  of 
which,  depredations  had  been  committed  by  the  Navajoes,  Utahs,  or 
Apaches  within  12  or  18  months  previous,  to  collect  from  the  people  in- 
formation at  all  explicit  or  reliable;  while  the  cases  reported  at  the  head- 
quartos  of  the.department,  or  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  do  not  cover 
two  thirds,  perhaps  not  one-half,  of  all  that  occurred.  However,  on  the 
northern  frontier,  from  Albiquiis.  to  Las  Yegas,  there  were  enumerated  to  me 
about  53  peueons  who  have  been  killed  on  that  line  within  twelvemonths, 
from  September  1,  1849,  to  September  1 ,  1850.  In  the  six  months  prece- 
ding there  were  some  shepherds  killed  at  different  points  along  that  line, 
probably  10  or  12,  though  I  could  not  arrive  at  the  number  with  any  pre- 
cision. These  murders  were  committed  by  the  Navajoes,  Utahs,  and  Jica- 
rilla  Apaches,  but  principally  by  the  latter.  In  the  lower  country,  and  along 
the  Rio  Grande,  from  Santa  Fe  to  El  Paso,  about  2(J  persons  have  been 
Stilted  within  eighteen  months— these  were  by  the  Navajoes,  and  White 
Mountain  an'd  Sacramento  Mountain  Apaches,  The  number  of  captives 
carried  off  from  New  Mexico  within  the  same  period  amount  in  all  to  13 
that  are  known  and  enumerated.  The  probability,  however,  is,  that  many 
obscure  persons  have  been  killed  and  children  carried  off  besides  those 
named . 

If  we  assume  the  total  ascertained  of  killed  to  be  83,  and  of  captives  to 
be  13,  I  incline  to  the  belief  that  from  15«to  30  per  cent,  might  be  safely 
added  to  these  figures  without  exceeding  the  truth.  £-*#*-' •.•• 

As  far  as  I  could  ascertain  positively,  tjy  summing  up  individual  cases, 
the  number  of  animals  driven  off  by  these  Indians  within  eighteen  months 
prior  to  the  1st  September,  1SK>),  is  as  follows: 

Horses  181 ,  which  at  $40  each  is     -  $7,240 

Mules    402,  which  at  $50  each  is     - 

Horned  caldo,  (many  of  them  work  oxeu.)  788,  at  &>($  15,760 

Sheep,  47,300,  at  $1  50       -  -  70,95 

Total  "4,050 

To  this  amount  50  per  cent,  may  be  added.  Aud  when  it  is  taken  into 
consideration  that  for  twenty  years  past  the  flocks  and  herds  of  this  people 
have  been  yearly  diminishing  under  the  constant  ravages  of  the  wild 
tribes,  and  that  districts  which  formerly  were  covered  with  «  stock  are 
now  almost  bare,  the  above  amounts  must  be  setdow-n  as  heavy  losses 
For  further  information  on  this  point  I  beg  leave  to  refer  to  my  report  of 
the  15th  July  last,  now  on  file  at  the  department. 

"2    The  capacity  of  the  people  of  New  Mexico  to  resist  the  incursions    , 
of  the  Indians,  and  the  necessary  military  force  to  secure  protection." 
Ex.— 2 


[26J  18 

With  regard  to  the  first  clause  of  the  inquiry,  the  history  of  the  country 
during  the  period  of  200  years  past  illustrates  the  fact  which  impresses 
itself  on  every  one  who  visits  New  Mexico,  that  the  people  within  them- 
selves are  altogether  incapable  of  resisting  the  inroads  of  the  Indians  into 
the  very  heart  of  their  territory.  They  have  been  from  generation  to 
generation  so  deeply  imbued  with  the  fear  of  their  savage  neighbors,  that 
it  is  only  necessary  to  raise  the  cry  of  ulos  Indies,"  and  a  dozen  of  them 
will  run  from  a  couple  of  Apaches  armed  with  lance  and  bow.  On  seve- 
ral expeditions  against  these  Indians  they  have  been  organized  into  com- 
panies, and  have  marched  with  the  regular  troops,  but  their  chief  exploits 
have  been  to  secure  the  booty  after  the  enemy  had  been  attacked  and 
routed  by  the  regulars.  In  most  of  these  instances  they  have  been  al- 
lowed, as  an  encouragement,  to  possess  themselves  of  the  entire  spoil ;  but 
while  this  continues  to  be  their  sole  object,  as  it  does  now  seem  to  be, 
they  will  not  greatly  expose  their  persons  in  the  conflict;  and  I  should 
therefore  rate  their  capacity  for  Indian  warfare  at  very  little  above  "zero." 

Better  auxiliaries  may  be  found  in  the  Pueblo  (or  civilized)  Indians  of 
the  Territory;  and  I  would  here  respectfully  repeat  what  I  had  the  honor 
to  present  to  the  notice  of  the  department  in  my  report  of  the  loth  July, 
viz:  that  advantages  may  accrue  from  extending  to  these  people  a  marked 
kindness,  and  securing  their  confidence  in  the  friendship  and  justice  of 
our  government. 

In  replying  to  the  latter  clause  of  the  second  query,  I  would  in  the  first 
place  beg  leave  to  invite  attention  to  the  facts  stated  in  a  preceding  para- 
graph, i.  e.  the  known  losses  sustained  yearly  and  monthly  by  the  inhab- 
itants of  this  Territory  from  the  inroads  of  large  tribes  ot  wild  Indians, 
whose  country  enieelopes  the  Territory  without  interval  on  the  north, 
south,  east,  and  west.  From  the  facts  to  which  I  refer,  it  must  appear 
either  that  the  military  force  at  present  in  New  Mexico  is  idle  and  inefficient, 
or  that  the  extent  of  frontier  intrusted  to  its  protection  is  out  of  proportion 
to  its  strength  and  the  character  of  its  organization. 

A  single  glance  at  the  map,  and  a  reference  to  the  total  number  of  troops 
for  duty,  as  stated  in  the  last  report  from  the  ninth  department  headquar- 
ters, will  clearly  demonstrate  the  truth  of  the  last  position.  The  question 
is,  what  (at  the  lowest  calculation)  is  "the  necessary  military  force  to  se- 
cure protection?'* 

In  stationing  a  military  force  here,  there  are,  apparently,  two  objects  in 
view,  requiring  separate  fields  of  action.  The  first  is  to  afford  present 
protection  to  the  lives  and  property  of  the  inhabitants;  the  second,  to  ef- 
fectually check  the  marauding  spirit  of  the  Indians,  and,  at  a  subsequent 
period,  to  induce  them  to  dwell  in  fixed  habitations,  to  cultivate  the  soil 
to  some  extent,  and  to  raise  their  own  stock.  The  first  must  be  effected, 
as  far  as  practicable,  by  stationing  small  bodies  of  troops  in  the  principal 
settlements.  The  second  can  only  be  accomplished  by  the  permanent 
establishment  of  a  strong  force  within  the  Indian  country.  To  do  this, 
I  should  answer  that,  for  present  service,  the  lowest  figure  at  which  this 
force  can  be  put  is  2,200  (two  thousand  two  hundred)  effective  men;  of 
whom,  at  least,  1,400  (fourteen  hundred)  should  be  mounted. 

The  question  may,  perhaps,  be  more  satisfactorily  answered  by  an  illus- 
tration of  the  mode  of  warfare  and  pillage  pursued  by  the  Indians  against 
vhorn  the  troops  flire  to  act,  and  a  description  of  the  country  in  which 
thty  are  to  operate,  premising  that  the  tribes  above  named  (independently 
of  the  Comanches)  count  from  4,500  to  5,000  warriors.  If  WB  take  Santa 


19  [  26  ] 

Fe,  the  seat  of  government,  and  principal  depot  of  munitions,  as  the  cen- 
tral point,  then  the  northern  line  of  posts,  for  defence  or  protection,  may 
be  drawn  through  Abiquiu,  on  the  northwest;  Taos,  Rayado,  and  Mora, 
on  the  north,  to  Las  Yegas  on  the  northeast.  These  are  all  important 
and  thriving  settlements;  but  each  one  is  separated  from  the  next  by 
rugged  mountain  regions  of  from  20  to  45  miles  in  width,  running  back 
into  the  Indian  country,  and  thus  affording  from  the  latter  easy  and  con- 
cealed approaches  on  the  flanks  of  all  of  them.  For  th«  protection  of  life, 
of  the  crops,  of  the  working  animals,  and  ail  property  immediately  around 
the  homesteads  of  these  people,  a  small  force  at  each  of  the  points  named 
is  considered  to  be  sufficient.  But  the  principal  wealth  of  the  people  is 
in  their  flocks  and  herds;  and  these  must  be  sent  (particularly  in  winter) 
into  narrow  mountain  glades,  affording  fine  pasturage,  at  the  distance  of 
from  five  to  twenty  miles  from  the  settlements,  where  they  are  left  for 
months  at  a  time  under  charge  of  a  few  simple  and  unarmed  shepherds. 
Here  they  are  an  easy  prey  to  the  Utahs  and  Jicarilla  Apaches,  who, 
crawling  upon  the  listless  shepherds,  shoot  them  with  arrows  to  prevent 
their  carrying  information,  awd  then  drive  off  the  stock  with  impunity; 
or  if  a  shepherd,  escaping,  brings^ intelligence  to  the  nearest  military  post, 
experience  has  shown  that  the  pursuit  is  almost  always  fruitless. 

The  other  line  of  settlement  that  should  be  occupied  is  from  Santa  F6 
southward,  along  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grand'e,  to  El  Paso.  Here  smalf 
garrisons  at  Albuquerque  (or  Bernallio,)  Cibolletta,  Socorro  (or  27  miles 
below,  opposite  Valverde,)  Don  Ana,  and  El  Paso  (or  San  Eiizario,) 
would,  in  the  same  way,  give  security  to  the  homesteads,  but  nothing 
more.  The  only  way  in  which  a  military  force  can  be  advantageously 
and  effectively  employed  to  put  an  end  to  Indian  spoliations  in  New  Mexico 
is  to  post  them,  riot  in  our  settlements,  or  on  our  borders,  but  in  the  heart 
of  the  Indian  country.  And  here  they  must  be  in  sufficient  strength  to 
awe  the  Indians — to  punish  them  in  their  strongholds  for  the  offences 
they  commit  beyond  their  own  boundaries.  Three  stations  of  this  kind 
are  deemed  requisite,  viz:  one  in  the  Navajoe  country,  near  the  canon  of 
Chi:  one  in  the  Apache  country  east,  somewhere  on  the  eastern  slope  of 
the  Sacramento  mountains,  where  water,  grass,  arid  timber,  of  excellent 
quality,  may  be  found  f  and  one  in  the  south  on  the  Gila  river,  Or  near 
the  old  copper  mines.  The  latter  is  a  very  eligible  position.  It  is  a  high 
country,  with  a  pure  air,  and  possessing  all  the  requisites  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  military  post,  together  with  abundance  of  game.  At  the  first 
two  posts  there  should  be  from  450  to  500  men  each;  at  the  last  350. 
At  most  of  the  other  points  named  above,  a  single  company  would  be 
sufficient. 

On  completing  the  tour  of  the  military  posts  in  this  Territory,  it  appears 
to  me  that  the  following  would  be  a  proper  disposition  of  the  troops  at 
this  time: 

Organization.         Probable  effect- 
ive strength. 

Abiquiu,  one  company  of  infantry  .     Jo 

Taos,  one  company  of  infantry  '•' 

Rayado,*  two  companies  of  dragoons  -             -       I  TO                   150 

Las  Ycgas,  one  company  of  infantry  -            -.        84                    75 

*  Rayado  and  Cibolletta  are  positions  from  which  operations  may  be  fcuccessfolly  curried  into 
the  Indian  cxuntiy.  (See  irspection  reports,  Ncs.  5  and  7.) 


[  26  1  20 

Organization.        Probable  tfftct- 
ive  strength. 

Santa  Fe,  one  company  of  infantry       -  84 

Albuquerque,  one  company  of  infantry  -  84  75 

Cibolletta,*  one  company  of  dragoons  and  one 

company  of  infantry  -  -  169  150 

Socorro,  one  company  of  dragoons  85  75 

Don  Ana,  one  company  of  dragoons  and  one 

company  of  infantry  -  -  160  150 

El  Paso,  one  company  of  infantry  -         84  75 

Navajoe  country,  fbwr  companies  of  dragoons, 
one  company  of  artillery  with  battery  of  moun- 
tain howitzer,  and  one  company  of  infantry  -  508  450 

Apache  country,  five  companies  of  dragoons,  and 
one  company  of  artillery  with  battery  of  moun- 
tain howitzer  -  509  450 

Gila  river,  ahree  companies  of  dragoons  and  one 

company  of  infantry  -  -  -  339  300 


Grand  total  -  .-  -  2T453  2,175 


Owing  to  the  usual  casualties  of  service,  I  do  not  consider  that  the 
average  effective  strength  of  companies  can  be  safely  estimated  at  more 
than  severity -five  total. 

The  following  troops  are  at  present  in  New  Mexico: 

Organization.  Tata!  present  Septerw.- 

ber  30,  1850. 

7  companies  of  dragoons  -       595  334 

2.        do  artillery-  -       168  99 

10         do  irifantiy  -       849  554 

1,603  987 

Add  to  the  above  one  full  regiment 
of  dragoons  or  mounted  riflemen 
— 10  companies  of  riflemen  -  840  (probable  strength)  750 

2, 443  1 ,  737 


The  above  total  present  in  New  Mexico  on  the  30th  of  September  lastr 
viz:  987,  would  give  only  an  average  of  52  total  to   a   company.     Say7 
then,  that  each  company  is  filled  to  75  total,  there  will  be — 
19  companies,  at  75  each  -  -         1,425 

Add  10  companies  of  rifles,  at  75  each  -  -  750 

This  will  give  a  total  of  -  -        2,175 

Thus,  one  regiment  of  mounted  riflemen  m'  addition  to  the  force  now 
in  New'  Mexico  may  be  considered  a  sufficient  or  necessary  military  force 
to  secure  protection — but  this  is  placing  it  at  the  very  lowest  figure  at 
which  it  can  safely  be  put. 


21  [  -26  ] 

The  nature  of  the  service  in  this  country  requires  mounted  troops 
almost  exclusively;  the  distribution  of  supplier  and  munitions  from  the 
general  depots  to  the  frontier  posts,  the  frequent  visits  of  staff  officers 
(paymasters,  quartermasters,  etc.)  from  post  to  post  in  the  necessary  dis- 
charge of  their  duties,  the  transmittal  of  orders  and  reports  of  constant 
occurrence  in  the  usual  course  of  service,  all  require  mounted  escorts  or 
express  riders. 

The  law  authorizing  the  mounting  of  a  portion  of  the  infantry  regiments 
would  in  some  measure  supply  the  deficiency  ef  cavalry  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  thp  army,  but  there  are  many  objections  to  this.  One  alone,  it  is 
sufficient  to  cite,  viz:  the  increased  expense.  This  my  own  observation 
satisfies  me  will  be  the  result  in  a  few  years  of  the  adoption  of  this  system. 
A- better  one,  I  believe,  would  be  to  change  the  organization  of  one  or  two 
of  the  foot  regiments  and  convert  them  into  mounted  riflemen. 

Among  the  advantages  of  adopting  this  "course  in  preference  to  raising 
ne\y  regiments  the  following  may  be  named:  The  officers  of  the  infantry 
in  general,  particularly  from  the  rank  of  captain  descending,  are  fine 
horsemen.  Their  lives  are  passed  almost  entirely  on  the  frontiers:  hunt- 
ing is  a  favorite  recreation  with  them,  and  a  majority  of  them  keep  their 
own  horses;  they  are  consequentlyegood  judges  of  horses,  and  well  skilled 
in  every  respect  in  their  management  and  treatment.  They  would,  there- 
fore, become  at  once  capable  and  efficient  cavalry  officers,  for  they  are 
already  well  grounded  in  the  tactics.  Again,  the  experience  of  25  years 
has  shown  me  that  on  an  average  about  one-half  the  infantry  soldiers  are 
more  or  less  accustomed  to  horses,  and  would  be  at  least  on  an  equality 
with  dragoon  recruits  in  all  that  regards  the  horse.  The  remainder, 
with  some  exceptions^  (who  might  be  transferred  to  other  foot  regjments,) 
would  in  a  few  months  manage  their  horses  sufficiently  well  for  alf  service 
on  this  frontier;  whereas  they  would  possess  over  any  newly-organized 
regiments  the  all-important  qualifications  of  discipline  and  a  knowledge 
of  the  use  of  their  arms. 

I  advance,  General,  for  the  consideration  of  the  department,  the  propo- 
sition to  change  the  organization  of  one  or  two  of  the  foot  regiments;  not  as 
an  expedient  to  remove  the  necessity  so  loudly  calling  for  an  addition  to 
the  army  of  one  or  more  new  regiments  of  dragoons  or  mounted  riflemen, 
but  because  I  am  persuaded  that  the  nature  of  the  service  to  be  required 
of  the  army  for  the  next  ten  years  will  be  such  as  to  require  that  the  cav- 
alry arm  shall  greatly  predominate  in  its  organization. 

"3.  The  best  means  of  supplying  the  troops  in  New  Mexico  with 
recruits,  horses,  and  subsistence." 

In  order  to  keep  the  companies  in  New  Mexico  full  at  the  present  stand- 
ard, recruiting  in  the  Atlantic  and  middle  States  must  be  chiefly  depended 
upon;  re-enlistment  will  do  but  little  towards  it. 

While  in  this  Territory  my  attention  was  requested  by  an  officer  of  the 
medical  department  to  the  subject  of  the  enlistment  of  hospital  stewards 
especially  for  that  office;  and  1  have  pleasure  in  submitting  his  views,  viz: 
that  they  should  be  enlisted  or  employed  especially  for  that  duty;  that 
their  pay  should  be  increased  to  that  of  paymaster's  clerk.  The  advantages 
would  be,  that  they  would  only  be  removed  from  the  hospital  at  the  ex- 
piration of  their  service;  that  the  hazard  incurred  in  putting  men  whose 
previous  education  has  not  fitted  them  for  the  duty  into  the  hospital  is 
very  great;  and  that  by  the  course  recommended,  the  government  would 


[26] 


22 


save  largely  in  men,  as  well  as  in  medicines  and  hospital  stores;  that  the 
increased  pay  proposed  would  bring  into  the  service  graduates  of  the 
schools  of  pharmacy  of  good  character. 

With  respect  to  horses,  they  cannot  be  procured  of  sufficient  size  and 
strength  in  the  Territory.  It  will,  therefore,  be  necessary  to  purchase  in 
the  middle  States.  But  the  horses  from  Missouri  and  Illinois,  from 
which  States  most  of  the  horses  now  in  the  Territory  have  been  brought, 
are  not  found  to  stand  the  change  of  climate  as  well  as  those  from  a  lower 
and  more  temperate  latitude,  as  Tennessee,  and  Kentucky.  All  horses, 
however,  even  from  the  last  named  States,  experience  more  or  less  the  ill 
effects  of  the  change,  and  many  droop  and  fall  away,  although  not  in  active 
service;  so  that  as  a  general  rule  a  twelvemonth  elapses  after  horses  are 
brought  into  this  country  before  they  are  acclimated,  or  have  recovered 
their  natural  vigor  and  endurance.  The  average  duration  of  horses  here, 
I  have  learned  from  dragooirofficers,  has  but  little  exceeded  three  years; 
this  may  be  owing  in  some  measure  to  their  having  been  put  upon  hard 
service  too  soon  after  their  arrival. 

In  view  of  this  I  would  recommend  that  grazing  farms  be  established, 
which  I  believe  in  ten  years  would  save  the  government  a  large  outlay 
in  horses.  Let  three  and  four-year  oM  colts,  bought  in  Tennessee,  be  kept 
on  these  farms  for  twelve  or  eighteen  months  before  they  are  put  in  ser- 
vice, and  they  will  last  at  least  twice  as  long  as  those  above  referred  to. 
Whilst  in  England,  in  1848,  I  conversed  much  with  cavalry  officers  on 
the  subject  of  horses  and  their  treatment  in  that  service.  I  was  informed 
that  colts  purchased  at  three  years  of  age,  and  placed  on  duty  with  the 
recruiting  or  depot  squadrons,  where  they  were  lightly  exercised  for  three 
years  before  being  put  into  the  service  squadrons,  served,  after  joining 
the  service  squadrons,  on  an  average  ten  years,  or  to  the  age  of  sixteen. 
This  fact  was  established  by  a  careful  examination  of  the  records  of  the 
service  during  a  lo^g  period. 

There  is  every  probability  that  the  service  in  New  Mexico  will  for  many 
years  to  corne  require  the  maintenance  on  the  part  of  the  United  States 
of  a  large  mounted  force.  And  there  is  little  doubt  that,  to  make  this  force 
efficient,  a  provision  of  the  kind  recommended  is  advisable.  On  mere 
than  one  occasion  the  Apaches  have  escaped  from  dragoons  (when  almost 
within  their  grasp)  where  the  fieetness  of  their  horses  was  put  to  the  test 
by  the  troops  on  their  broken-down  animals. 

On  the  subject  of  supplying  the  troops  in  New  Mexico  with  subsistence 
I  had  the  honor  to  report  on  the  14th  instant.  I  would  only  further  add, 
that  it  was  remarked  to  me  by  Captain  Bowman,  regimental  quartermaster 
of  the  third  infantry,  and  acting  assistant  commitesary  of  subsistence  at 
Kl  Paso,  that  much  expense  in  transporting  subsistence  across  the  plains 
was  incurred  by  packing  bacon,  hard  bread,  &c.,  in  barrels;  the  bacon 
sides  being  cut  into  square  pieces  (the  bones  were  not  removed)  left  large 
interstices  in  the  barrels,  and  these  again  leave  intervals  in  the  wagon 
bodies,  by  which  much  space  is  lost.  He  recommended  that  square  boxes 
of  convenient  size,  and  made  to  fit  in  the  wagon  bodies,  be  used  instead 
of  barrels;  also  that  hard  bread  be  baked  in  square  cakes,  and  be  packed  in 
similar  boxes.  I  examined  the  weight  of  some  of  the  barrels  (whiskey 
barrels)  used  for  bread,  and  found  they  ranged  from  45  to  56  pounds,  while 
the  hard  bread  contained  did  not  exceed  from  (.K)  to  J12  pounds.  Brxes 


23  [  «6  ] 

would  be  lighter  than  these  barrels,  but  it  is  questionable  whether  the 
bread  would  be  as  well  preserved. 

There  is  no  reason,  however,  why  all  the  hard  bread  required  for  use 
in  New  Mexico  should  not  be  made  there,  and  for  this  purpose  it  would 
be  well  to  send  out  one  or  two  competent  bakers. 

"4.  The  probable  number  of  inhabitants  of  New  Mexico — Americans, 
Mexicans,  and  Pueblo  Indians;  also  the  number  of  each  class  within  its 
limits  whilst  a  territory  of  Mexico. " 

I  have  answered  this  query  in  my  report  of  the  15th  July  last  as  fully, 
I  believe,  as  I  could  possibly  now,  by  going  over  the  same  ground  again. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEO.  A.  McCALL, 

Inspector  General. 
Major  General  R.  JONES, 

Adjutant  General  U,  S.  A.,  Washington  city^D.  C. 


' 


